After a group stage containing 45 goals and top spots for big-hitters Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa, the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) are about to begin.
No team won all of their first three matches, although Zambia and Algeria joined the group winners in remaining undefeated, while Ghana also progressed as runners-up despite losing their opener.
Mali and Senegal advanced as the two best third-placed sides and are now seeking significant upsets and the reward of a place in the final four.
Who’s playing who? When and where are the matches and what do the coaches and players make of their chances?
BBC Sport Africa previews the last-eight ties coming up across the first two days of knockout stage action in Morocco.
Nigeria vs Zambia (Friday, 16:00 GMT)
Nine-time champions Nigeria have never failed to reach the Wafcon semi-finals but coach Justine Madugu says goals are a “concern” after scoring once since their opening game.
“There is no room for errors,” said Madugu, backing a team who are yet to concede.
“We must be 100% – psychologically, physically, tactically.”
Zambia scored seven goals and conceded four on their way to matching Nigeria’s tally of seven points, with strikers Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji notching three apiece.
Image source: Backpage Pix
Image caption: Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda have formed a successful partnership up front for Zambia
Banda hopes to emulate Zambia’s men, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 after a fairytale run.
“It would be a great moment for Zambia,” the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year told Newsday on the BBC World Service.
“Remembering 2012, this year now it can be us, the ladies, so we are hoping for that and we are aiming for it as a team.”
However, Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is not fazed by the threat posed by Banda and Kundananji.
“I’ve been watching them, trying to study them,” the Super Falcons star said.
“As a goalkeeper, you need to expect anything. Trust me, I’m ready for them.”
The sides met at the 2022 finals, when Zambia won 1-0 to finish third.
Morocco vs Mali (Friday, 19:00 GMT)
Image source: Backpage Pix
Image caption: Ghizlane Chebbak (left) earned Morocco a draw against Zambia before the 2022 Wafcon player of the tournament scored a hat-trick against DR Congo
A 1-0 victory over Senegal ensured Morocco’s path to the final avoids Nigeria and South Africa, with four-goal captain Ghizlane Chebbak the prize candidate to trouble a Mali side who lost their third match 4-0 to South Africa.
The Atlas Lionesses conceded twice in each of their first two games against Zambia and DR Congo, and coach Jorge Vilda – a 2023 World Cup winner with Spain – said his players are “happy but not euphoric” after their first clean sheet of the tournament.
Mali will be hoping captain Fatoumata Karentao recovers from an injury that forced the goalkeeper to be substituted against Banyana Banyana.
Female Eagles coach Mohamed Saloum says he and his players remain determined to build on their run to the semi-finals in 2018.
“From the quarter-finals, we will really see the true quality of the teams,” predicted Saloum, who took charge in 2017.
“We rely heavily on our quality. We don’t care about the physical challenge or anything else.”
Algeria vs Ghana (Saturday, 16:00 GMT)
Image source: Confederation of African Football
Image caption: Ghoutia Karchouni (second left) scored the goal which secured Algeria’s spot in the quarter-finals
Unbeaten Algeria are in the knockout stages for the first time under the astute tactical guidance of Farid Benstiti.
“I’m not surprised at all,” former Lyon and Paris St-Germain boss reflected, having chosen “defensive principles” over attacking instincts to earn a 0-0 draw against Nigeria.
“I know the quality of these players – they are brave, very good technically and intelligent.”
With the Fennecs yet to concede, Benstiti acknowledged that pragmatic tactics could be required again during knockout matches.
“The strategy was efficient because we really wanted not to lose,” the French-Algerian added.
“I learned a lot about my team and it will help me when I’m deciding whether to use a compact block.”
Ghana ended the group stage by scoring three times inside the final 28 minutes of their 4-1 win over Tanzania.
The three-time finalists are aiming to make an eighth semi-final appearance and avenge a 2-1 defeat during the 2018 group stage, when Mali advanced at their expense.
“We know we have the potential to go all the way,” said coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren.
“[Towards] the end of a tournament, every game is like a final.”
South Africa vs Senegal (Saturday, 20:00 GMT)
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Bambanani Mbane’s goal spared South Africa a shock defeat to Tanzania in their second match after the holders started their campaign by beating Ghana 2-0
Helped by an exquisite free-kick from captain Refiloe Jane, South Africa’s commanding win over Mali left coach Desiree Ellis praising a “statement” performance.
Ellis, who has guided her team to the top of their group at the last three tournaments, is wary of a Senegal team who thrashed DR Congo before losing by a goal to Zambia and Morocco.
“It’s one moment of magic, one moment of madness or even a mistake by someone, and that’s it,” warned Ellis.
“We have to be on top of our game… we’ve got to do even better.”
While seven different players have netted for South Africa, four of Senegal’s goals have come from joint tournament top scorer Nguenar Ndiaye.
“The objective is to pass this milestone and reach the semi-finals for the first time,” said Lionesses of Teranga coach Mame Moussa Cisse.
“We will study [South Africa] well and work on their qualities and strengths, but also our own qualities to rectify what was not good in the group stage, to allow us to play the right match.”
